Card selecting and releasing mechanism for filing cabinets



July 6, 1926.

. 5. J. KRAUTETAL CARD SELECTING AND RELEASING MECHANISM FOR FiLINGCABINETS 7 Filed July 12, 1921 .3 Sheets-Sheet '1 INVENTORS cl J 1:" ram m ght/1,710 flue/c,-

' ATTO I II Jkma s. J. KRAUT El AL CARD SEL-ECTING AND RELEASING MECHANISM FOR FILING CABINETS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12. 1921 INVENTORS .f z" 2 $29 gfszwzzvzdc 797 w (T W U ATTOR By i 'r i I L-J July 6, 1926. 1,591,321 5. J. KRAUT: ET AL CARD SELECTING. AND RELEASING MECHANISM FOR FILING CABINETS ATTO 5y Patented July, 6, 1926., I

' H 1,591,321 a I ASSIGNQR ,TO sign 334mm f (Jenn sELEcrI'n'e AnDRELEAfiIfiG MECHANIVSETQEFEILING. V

I j Applicaticn'filefl July 12, 1921; ,seriainotfmmee This invention relates to" filing deyices and has for its primary object to provide means for supporting a plurality of; databearing cards in a bottemless compartment 7 5 and manually ope arable selectingm'echanism whereby any individual desired card may "he released and'y'vithdrawn from the cdmpart- 7 curbing: theremainingcarcls. v

. More part1cular1y',l'the present invention ment without removing. 'er in; any" Way clis comprehends' the provision of series eff "shiftable 'rods'from which thecardsare releasably suspendeclf at their upper edges to gether' with'lower supporting reds extendin'g' hjeneeth the series of cards, and mechav nism for simultaneouslyIsliiftingthe first sejries of'ro cls and the latter supper-ting rods t re y Perm t o h re andlu ret d gr v y .m v ii en ,o a s e d" flrd F9 the operation c f said mechanism; j [I al o no her qbiec of o r lnvejntlq to provide means for simultaneously actuating; the "calmly-releasing means, of a series of from any one efdthe cernpartmentsj' 7 In one'embddifnen't cf Our'nventicn e propose-to proyide a; key-actua teel selecting mechanism tor controlling the openation of the car lsupperting and; releasing means \Vithin'fa filing compartment 'tegether with meansnormally locking the f'ccntrol-ling means against Operation and actuated upon the depression of the r 4 7 keys to release said M c q ntro lhng m ean V t In genejal; th pres ht inyenticn provides a jcarcl-sleleeting and releasing mechanism for filiugvcahinets through the medium! of whi envh siredwcar may be eas ly an quickly obtained and;,wh-ich will be reliable r and elficient in,v its qlperationg highly riseryice able in 1 practical use" and, capable. 'of manufacture: at comparati ely'fsmall;"cost, i v r QVVith; the abciyeand'ethercbjects in View,

theinyention consists in the improved car l- .selecting and releasingmechanism for, filing cabinets andfin the ferm construction and relative arrangementef its several parts as lus mt din the eQCQmPa-nying' ra ng rand Inthe drawings several des rable embod mentsof the inve'n- V txon and ln' w'hi'ch- 511111131 reference characy yl c Figure 3 '1s a detallsect onal yiew on 311"" Figure filingcompartments by means of a single selecting mechanismto release a desired card 7 been actuated; H r 4 Figurefi is a front elevation ci'tWo'series of filing compartments illustrating the "means "fer simultanequsly' Operating the carel-sup'perting and "releasing means, or all 7 will. he hereinaftermere. fully described, il-

claimsi r subsequently incorpcrated in: the cined wherein wehave diiselosed ters designate corre pondin artsthrough'-' out the several view Figure l-i's atopjpl anview of the select- Q ing mechanism andthe; key-board.- for contrel'ling its "operation; several rowsf of the w keysbeing omitted in theinterest of clarity;

Figure Figuref3 breken enlarged scale talgen on the" line 3* 3 0f' Figure Lisa detail"fragmenta yend view illustrating particularly the means fer actil- 'ating the clutchloeking meehanismjy' Figure 5 'is a"cletail" plan View ofth'e actu- I ati ng cam showing the rel'atiye positions 'of 'tliecani 's'lots'ancl, the parts @o-o eraung therewith after the of the compartments and for locking the clutches their efiectivelpcsitions l eur- 71 a P n vi p rflybrQke h dperat 'q i hs -ting m h n m ur 8 1 av tienal vi wf ak n on'th lin f gu e;

Eigl re 9;is a front elevationiqf the. em-

Fi-ie rel 1 7E115. irleiel re eiithere f? -Figure'.1 1 is fa detail elevati'dnjcertain r P r s b ing br ken. ewe? howing he i cating: dial n parts; of th Operat ng geari f the manua ly p rabl actuat n means ior the selecting. mechanism;

Figure 114 is a detail {elevat on of certaln ion selecting mechanism has tion showing one of the clutches in its released position; and

Figure 13 is a detail elevationof one of the cards having the reinforcing strip along one'edge slotted to receive the movable locking rods.

In describing our invention, we shall first refer to the means whereby the individual data-bearing cards are supported in the respective compartments of the filing cabinet.

'The cabinet 'may,of course, consist of any desired multiple of similarunits which may be either permanently assembled in the com p'leted structure or can be separable from' each other. As the card-supporting and releasing means is identical for all of the several compartments, the following descriptionbfone such means will sufiicefor all. We shall first describe that "embodiment of our inventionwhich is illustrated in Figures 6 to 12 inclusive of the drawings. .To the spaced'vertically disposed'standards' 5, the front wall 6, rear wall 7 and the side walls 8 are suitably secured. Upon the upper edge of the front wall 6, a series of longitudinally extending metal bars ,9 are a'series of spaced openings 19 therein, the

- provided with supported in spacedparall el' relation to each other and between said bars the spacing strips 10 are disposed at their upper and lower edges. Within the compartment a series of spaced; female clutch members 11 are arranged,- each of said members having afstu'bshaft 12 at one end rotatably-mounted in the front wall 6 of the compartment. The shafts 12 of these clutch members are of relatively different lengthsfas shown in -Figure' 7 and 'extendthrough the slots 18 provided in the bars 9. Upon each shaft a pinion 14 is fixed, said pinions being disposed respectively in one of the spaces betweenthe series of bars 9. r a

Anadditiona-l pinion 15 is also arranged in each of the spaces between the plates or bars 9 and in spaced relation to the slots 13, said latter pinions being fixed upon the shafts 16 which are rotatably mounted in said spaced plates 9 and are provided at their frontends withvknurled heads or finger pieces ,17 whereby said shafts may be rotated, A face plate 18 is provided with shafts 16 also extending through said face plate; Between thisplate 18 and the first of theplatesor bars 9 dial plates 20 fixed upon the shafts 16 are disposed, each of said plates having the numerals Oto v9 delineated thereon and successively visible through'the openings '19 in the rotation of the dial p lates.; -The' spacing strips 10 are recessed to receive these dial plates and each dial is circumferentially spaced shoulders 21'to'engage a stop lug 22 on the upper spacing strip and thereby limit the rotat on of the dial vplate in each direction. Substantially one-half of the circumference of the dial plate is notched or corrugated, as at 23, to receive a yieldablelatch element 24 on the lower spacing strip 10 which holds the dial plate and consequently the shaft 16 against a casual rotation. v 7

With the upper sides of the pinions 14 and 15 in the severalspaces, longitudinally of thecompartment and upon each'of. these rods a pinion 29 is fixedand meshes with a fixedrack 30 secured upon the rear face of the wall 7, said pinion and rack being enclosed bythe housing-plate 31. The for ward end of each rod 27 is adapted to be connected to one of the femaleclutch members 11 by the shiftable male clutch -member QQ said members preferablybeing of rectangular form. It will thus be under-V stood that when these members are in the V )osition shown, in Fi ure, 8 of the draw-, b

ings,and the member 11 is rotated inthe manner hereinafter explained, the member 29* rotates therewith asa unit, relative rotation between these membersbeing pre vented by their rectangular form. These clutch members 29 are simultaneously actuated by yoke arms 3O fixed on a shaft 31 to one end'o-f which an arm 32'is-secured, fsaid ,arm projecting forwardly through .a slot 33 in the front wall 6 ofthe compartment. I

As shown'in Figure 13 of the drawings, each of the cards 3 L is provided along one of its longtudinal edges with a reinforcing strip 35 of metal or other suitable material. This strip. is provided with spaced longitudinally elongated slots 36,.each of the slots having an entrance 37 opening upon the edge of the reinforcing strip, the location of said entrances withv respect to the ends of each slot 36 being relativelydifferentin-the illustrated example. Also the location of the slot entrances 'on the} other cards to becontained in the compartment is different for the respective cards. These slots 86 receive the rods 27. In addition to these rods 27, guiderods 38 are fixed at their ends in the frontand rear wallsof the compartment and are adapted to be received in the notches or recesses'39 provided in the ends of the reinforcing strips 35 on the cards. a v p V g Normally, the weight of the series of cards in the filing compartmentis' sustained by "rodsextending beneath thelower edges ofthe cards adj acent the oppositeends there of; These 'rodsf-a're simultaneously *inoved outwardlyain opposite directions beyond the ends of the ca'rds by means of a rackmechanisr'nmounted upon the vfront randrear walls of; the compartment at their" lower edges-tv These rack mechanisms itI'GSlIIllldl" 1 toureach other in 'constructionpand arrangemer t and each comprises a pair of longitudinal shiftablebars'z ll slotted as at 42 to receive guide 'pinsr43sfixed in the compart merit wall; The inner opposed ends of these bars 41 has spaced overlapping rack portions 42% which iengage the; opposite sides of.

a pinion 45 'journaled" upon a stud sh aft fixed in the Wall 6; Each ofthe'bars ilfiis pro-V vided 'at its outer end with an angular slot: 46 in which one end ofone of the rods/wis movably -engage d. Links 47 Land; 48 re- I V spectively, are=also connectedftotherends of said rods and are pivoted at their other ,ends as at4-9. and 50:11pm the Wall-6,; fro

the pivot-50ofth link 48 at the rearside of the wal1f6 an 31111151 is fixed'and this arm is pivotally connected by means of a link "52' to a bell-crank: lever fulcrurned as at '5 l'upon'the rear. sidejof, the wall 6. The upwardly projecting arm 55 of this lever'is adapted to be'en'gaged against: the

lower edge of thearm 32zwhich v aetuates the rockshaft 31*. as shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, whereby; the. series of shfftable clutch IIIBIIlbGIS '29 are locked in operative 'oonnectioniwith' the rods 27. -To the outer end of the other of the" bars 41 a bellacrank lever 56 mounted-upon the wall ,6 is'leonnested, one arm ofsaid lever carryingapln it qperating in-the Vertical slot 57in the end ofthe bait: This lever is fixed upon'thefulcrumed rod 58 and'a similar lever is'fixed toflthe other end of said-rod :at the rear side of? the comp artment whereby the rackm echanism mounted/on the rear wall 7wi1lbe actuated.v lllhen' two or more of" the compartments are; arranged in superposed relation. to eachother, the outatlardly' extending arms of the bell-crank levers 56r are oonnectedby means ofthe'ba'r 59-. 'As shown in Figure 'ti of the drawings,

the corresponding bars 41- or horizontally adjacent-filing compartments are connected I .toeach: otherby means of a rod 63i so that by means al'sof'of' the connections ibetween the superposed compartments a single primaryiactuating mechanism serves to si'muh, taneously operaterthe bars 41 of all filing compartments. When the bars 41 to which bell cranks 56 are connected aremoved out+ wjardly as shownin dotted lines in Figure a correspondingoutward movementis imparted tov tlie associated bar 41 throughthe medium of the pinion 45::mdi racks 44., In

' this ogposit'e "shifting movement of said barsyt the cabinets maybe simultaneously downwardly so .thatthey "are later-ally dis. i

posed beyond theends of'lthefcards. @ne 7 of 'therbell. cranks 56 is, providedfwith a} suitable operating "handleb'ti",v through the i medium' offwhichl the racklbarsdl ofv all; of

to' shift the supportingrods 40. :g

operated l ;It will be noted from reference to Figure l3-that each card is'c'lesignated by ai'iumben V Assuming thatiitfis desired to obtaincard numbered 'Il23dflfi om tliefl :ompart 1neiit in which such Icard is-contained together with amultiplicityoof Qther Cards distinguished by different numbers; the several. knobs 1 17 are successively rotated from left to right. Startingat theleft Ttheknob indicating thousands-isrot'ated until the numeral 1 01 theindicating-disc appears in one ofz-the" openings. -19;+"Simi1arly the next knob is rotated until the-numeral2 on the hundreds 'fi' l" dials appearstin the side opening; thenthe I 'tensg knob, is I rotated: ur'itil'the numeralappears in the opening and finally the units knob is, rotated until the numeral 4 visible through the opening. theJrotatio-nof each of these"knobs"thenaok: 25 me'shing;

positioned in alignment with the entrance 37 to's-aid slot. Of course, asthe knobs 17"are- Z rotated. th roughwdi-fierent degrees the rods 27 are moved; for: different distances in..the

slots, 36 As the entrances and one or more OfthQxSlOtS of all the other cards afreidiiffer'ently located than those of the card nuni Thered ;1-234,=.only the latter icard will be re"- leased,v the remaini-ng cards being still: supported by the rods, 27: Thus "when the rods Slotsf' of -ca1td.;1234, only this card will drop.

by gravity from the compartment when the rods are moved f'romzunderthe card's-Z'Phe' "vertically superposed ;compart1nents wf are a spaced asjuffioient' distance" apart to 'enablefi the, "card to :be; reaTdilywithdrawn. 5 It'is of i" curse under-Stood e 'in. th se cases where "i tion to the card, \aslthe entranced?v to one of :the slotsi36f in-thefedge of the card-is I disposed in the vertical lineofsaid rod. It

will, therefore, 1 be apparent. that in setting: the selecting mechanism, I one of the knobs 17*corresponding tothe' cipher would not be operated. *zThus iflthe card number was 103d only the first, third and fourthoperating knobs l'i' will ,beactua-ted.

1 Cards bearing different numbers maybe disposed -in "filing; compartments otherthan that which is equipped with: the indicating V the card vnumberincludes-fa cipher, one of e the rods 27'will nothefin supporting rem;

dials and operating knobs 17, and we have, therefore, provided means for transferring a corresponding shifting movement to the rods 27 of each of the other filing compartments. Thus as shown in. Figure 11, an

additional pinion '64 isengaged with each of the rack bars 25, said pinions respectively meshing with the teeth of a vertically disposed series of rack bars 65 which are movable through suitable guides 66. These vertical rack bars being engaged with the pinions164 of each filing compartment in one vertical series, will simultaneously transmit "movementto the horizontally movable rack ,bars of the filing compartments which .are not provided with the manually operthe card to a position in advance of the other cards in the box and with the slots 36 thereof in registering relation with the respective rods 27. Thus, when the clutch members 29 are again thrown rearwardly they will shift the card rearwardly on'the rods 27. V

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, wherein we have shown a key-actuated selecting mechanism for operatingthe rack and pinion means whereby the rods 27 are shifted to the proper positions in the -slots 36, a key-board frame generally indicated at 69, is suitably mounted upon a frame 69 supported upon one side of the filing cabinet. As herein shown the keyboard frame includes a plurality of parallel horizontally extending bars 70 arranged vertically in stepped relation to" each other and corresponding in number to the number of series of keys; For the sake of clarity, we have shown in Figural only one row of keys 71 in fulllines. the remaining rows of keys being indicated by thedotted circles at the opposite ends'of each row. These keys extend through openings-provided in the top wall of the casing or housing indicated by dotted lines at 7 2 the lceys in each row to be numbered consecutively left to right, 1 to 9 respectively. The vertically" disposed shank of each key is pivotally connected at its lower end as at 73 to a lever 74 fulcrumed at one of its ends in the stud '7 5 which is fixed in one of the plates'70; the other end of this lever ispivotally connected to a pin 76 vertically movable through an opening in the bar 7 0. Beneath each of the bars70 a longitudinally extending lever 72 is disposed and this lever is provided with a series of centrally located-longitudinally spaced openings 7 3 corresponding in number to the number of keys in each'row and accordingly to the numberof pins 76 actuated by .said keys. It will be observed that the pin 76 and accordingly the openings 73 in the lever through which the respective pins are adapted to engage are spaced at-unequal distances .fromeachother. vIn other words, these pins are arrangedprogressively in closer relation from the left tothe right hand side of the keyboard.

Each of the levers 72 at one of its ends is connected by means of a tubular or eyelet pivot to one end of link 77 as seen inFigure 3 the other end ofwhich is connected to the arm 79 of a gear segment 78 which is pivoted as at 80, upon a convenient part of 4 the frame structure.. These. gear segments are respectively engaged with the rack bars 81 mounted in guides 81 and these rack bars in turn are connected to the outer ends of the series of'horizontalshiftable rack bars '25 of one of the filing compartments (see Fig.4). V s

The other or right hand end of each lever 72 is connectedfb'y means of a link 82 to a lever 83 fulcrumed' intermediate ofits ends as at 8 1. All of these levers'at one end are connected with a single roller 85 operating in the cam track 86 of an actuating disc or.

wheel 87. This dis 'is rotatably mounted.

on the shaft 88 and has a central hub portion upon which a beveled gear 89 is fixed; A

similar gear 99011 the end ofan operating shaft 91 mesheswith the gear 89. To the other end of said shaft acrank handle 92 is fixed. A spring 93 surrounding said shaft 0perates to rotate the shaft in one direction and return the cam disc 87 to a normal position.

56 above referred to and whichwas'direetly actuated by hand, being dispensed with. The upper end of the lever 60 is operatively connected by the rod 62 to one" arm of a bell-crank lever 62 which is fulcrumed as at 94, and hasits other arm connected by means of a'rod 95-to a pivoted arm 96 which carries a roller operating in a secondcam slot 97 provided in theupper surface of the disc or wheel 87. I

From the above it will be understood that a series of the lever-handling connections 83 and 82 with the respective levers 7 2 corresponding in number to th'enumber of rows tainedflin their normal lpfositions' byxthe teat-e2? of keys is provided andtheyaaf eia attested ;;Norl,nally,'the racks 81 :and thepgear' s g ments 7 8 engaged therewith ar 0eksd against movement by m ans-of 1t h verti Cally ,-.clispose l locking-$ each of which is .engagedat i ts'upper endihy a piv t yoke mem ber 99 ,fulcrun ied in a post. or standard 100, the pi voteclend of said .yoke having-an arm-l0l pivotally connected t'oaa bar--102- which extends beneath the series of key-ace tuated levers 74, Thejothe r end of :this. than is supported by'the'link 101"; pivoted ,upon a standard 100. Acontractile spring, 103 i connected to the yoke 9.9 and nOnnnt-llynrges the "looking Pill 98 downwardly and engages the lowerfendt-hereof in thetubiilar pivot connecting the end; of the lever 7 2 to the link 77. It will he understood that iwhile, an

actuation of the gearv segment 78; through.

the inediuntof the lever 72 is thus prevented,

1 thelever end may-nevertheless rotateor turn lever to the link 7 7 v about the eyelet pivot which connects said The shank of each key isprovidedjn its foisward I edge with the vertically spaced notches 1 045. Between the-spaced supports Avdownwardly :extendingflange {108 is also normal-positions by ineanszoftl1exsprings,

105 -.a key-looking,memberf 106 is pivotally mounted and on the upper edge thereof said memberxis provided with :an angular flange 107 connnoh' to. all lof:thegkeysw in: one row.

mounted onithepivot rodi of the member 106 for independent pivotal mo'vement and is iyieldingly I held normally in .acnntact. with the pivoted cam l-porti'ons 1,09 of the key shanks by means of the springs 108'. The keys are '{inclependently returned to. .l their 119 connected at one oftheirnends to ;the lever 574' and having their other ends I ,cons nested :tozithe fixed .b-ar @120. r-wlihe upward movement of the levers toltheirinorinal positionsxis limitedhy astop lug 121 onflweach lever which engages :the topwallrof the ease ing or housing, as seen; inF igure31oiivthe drawings) Therlocking member 105. 15 yieldin held in the normal position shown in Figure 3 by means of one :01 more"springs indicated at to Lwlnoh position athemoVement of; saidv member is limited bycontaot with the u per edge of the flangelQS; From this;,construc tion it-w-ill be manifest that when, a single key in anyrowis vdepressed, the beveled :face

109. on the key shank: coacitsavith the flange 1 1:08 tliereby moving said flange to 'permit the springs 110 to lock the lopkingrm'ember and engage itsrflange 167 in the uppermotch 10.4 of the depressed key and in the lower notches of the remaining keys zin'zthekroav, thus rendering itimpossi-ble' to depress more than one key at a time in. each row'zof keys, The'keys which. are not idepnessedlareites :levers 72 which ar also :at difi enent prings 1 19. s t-hat t e lower not he 10s in aid-k ys. Wills-he in exa talignment,wi hth uppe otch Qt th depressedkey to r ceive the flange -fvthe" lo king member 6JT11 key a e autom ic lly ire as d iii-the re rn mov ment o the @1116? older; the ashes of thenspr he lfiihv m an bf-n: pawl ll-1:

canriedlsaid cam whic eng essthe 1:, 1: end of" rti ally! di posed lever 1 i l med int mn di'ate Q-i. its nd asfat 113, Above the ifu' rum of thezleter, a n d/1:1

is p vo ally on ec ed th r to, Q'i l-E QQL X ding orwa dly through an op nil lgin the lo king member xl fi ass ciate l w th the nespect ve ows ot k ys en h ing on ected at its other e t a .pieotedupr ght .whicninthe movement of the upper end of thelever 1 heidi e t on :in, cated by a the; r ow imm nse, engag he espec rytnelo klng members ,l06 and thereby release 7' the flanges sLlQJT- from ,1enga-g mentfiin the notches l0: and permit lot the retunn Iota-the keys to th ir n rmal positionsin h upward movement'otthe :bar 102. 1 It. .willheunderstood that these actions takewpl-a'ce can-cur V lfently andby the positive, ,actnation ot the locking member in i this ;manner,' all} possibfl;

ity of afi ailuretorelease @the keys iszo'bvi ated. The'inod -114;andi:-tl 1e ==leveru1 12 are retunnecl'to their normal; positions bymeans of the spring 117.

. :In thepperation of thislkeyhaai diy of selectingmeehanism, wfwhen" the card numbered 1234 :is. desired, the operatorfirst depresses. the :key number 1 in .the upper; most qr'oiv which operates'to' force the'firstiof the pins .7 (i-pdo vnivardly-into theop'ening in the lever 72 -1n"ali'gnn}1ent;;, thereiiiithl-nand simultaneously depresses the :bar 3102;? there-V by actuating ;-the yoke 99 -:and lifting the locking pin'98 to disengagethedever from goo the eyelet "pivot xconnectinglsaid flVGI to the y link 7 :7 L Also the depressed key is :looked and held in its depressedzpositionawhile the remaining keys in this 'roiv are looked associated levers-with the link 77. clhete-ns and unitskeys numbered and. 4t irle'specr' tively are alsondepressed and the ipivota-l' connection" effected -:bet weenf;the pins 6 actuated, by these 1 keys and the nespeetiive tances'zt-rointlie.link l7. hns-itav l e patent that when the sesze'ral levers #52 are above refenred, to tnom the connection ofthe; 29

aotuatedi and"movediebout1- he'mesn ntiaieide v pressed zitulornm pins 176 "the gear segments compartment through the medium of the cam wheel 87.

Thus, whenthe crankhandle 92 is turned to rotate said wheel in the direction indicated by the "arrow in Figure 1, the wall of the cam slot 86 coacting with the roller 85' moves the levers 83 to the position seen in dotted lines, so that through the medium of the links 82, the series of levers '72 are simultaneously moved uponthe fulcrum pins 76..

At the same time,the walls of the cam slot 97 coacting with the roller on the pivot arm 96 move said arm to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, which in turn through the medium-of rod 95 oscillatesthe bell crank lever 62 and thus actuates the lever to operate the rack bars all and move the supporting rods 40 in the manner above ex plained so that the released card may drop bygravity from the filing compartment. Upon the release of the crank 92, the spring 93 returns the cam wheel 87 to its normal position, whereupon the parts of the selecting mechanism likewise assume their normal positions and the depressed keys are released in the manner above described. In the event that a key of each row is not depressed, but for instance, acard numbered 35 is desired, the locking pins 99 corresponding to the thousands and hundreds rows of keys are not. raised but remain in their normal posi-' tions. Thus only the fulcrumpins for the lever 72 of the tens and units rows of keys will be depressed and consequently only these two levers when actuated will operate to movethe gear segment 78 and shift the rack bars 81 associated therewith, the other rack bars and gear segment remaining stationary. The levers 72 connected to these latter gear segments are, however, moved with the other levers in the rotation of the cam wheel 87 but they will merely turn about the eyelet pivots in which the locking pins are engaged'and will impart no movement to the link 77.

From the foregoing description consid- 7 ered'in connectionrwith the accompanying drawings, the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of our invention will be readily understood. We have found both the manually operable means and the key-controlled means for selectably operating the card-releasing mechanism to be very satisfactory and reliable in practical operation. We deem the key-controlled selecting means preferable, however, since it enables the desired card to be more quicklyobtained. By providing effected I card.

immediately drop by gravity-from'its as sembled position with the other cards in the filing compartment. Of course, thenumber of units comprisingthe cabinet mightbe multiplied to any extent desired, the-mechanism above referred to being merely duplicated to the extent necessary. 7

While we have herein shown and described several'desirable embodiments of our invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that the improved selective card-releasing mechanism issusceptible of many minor modifications in the form, proportion and arrangement of its several parts, and we therefore reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within' the spirit and scope of. the invention as claimed.

We claim: a

1. In combination with a card-filing compartment having card-retaining means therein, manually controllable mechanism operable to selectively release a single card turbing the position of the remaining cards. 2. In combination with a card-retaining means, mechanism for actuating the cardretaining means, and selectively foperable means controlling the operation of said mechanism to effect the release of a desired 3. In combination with a card-filing compartment a plurality of movable card-re- .taining elements adapted to cooperate with means on one'edge of cards, mechanism for V actuating said card-retaining elements, and I selectively operable means controllingthe operation-of said mechanism to position the card-retaining elements and effect the release of a'desired card. 7

4. In combination with a card-filing compartment, a plurality of movable card-retaining elements adapted to cooperate with means on one edge ofeach card, mechanism for' actuating said card-retaining elements and selectively operable means controlling the operation of said mechanism to position the card-retaining elements and effect the release of a desired card, movable supporting means extending beneath the cardsand supporting the same independently of the retaining elements, and means for positioning said supporting means to permit of the gravity movement of the released card fromversely across said compartment, cardseach havingmam tc releasably engage onei-o-f the" retaining 1 rods, and means for laterally other cards each "having 'means' engaging cachof 'sald roid's, the engagmgmeans jotthe respective cards belngconstructedvt-o release the individual cardswh'en' the retaining "rods 7 are in relatively differentpositions, and 1'5 manually operable means for actuating the rack andpmionfmeans to shit the retaining rods andeflect therelcase of a deslred card.

partment, "a plurality-of transversely disi posed retainingrods,grack and pinion means forshiiitingsaid rodsrelatiy'ely to each other, esms eaen haying meansengaging each of said rods, the engagingmeansof the respec t iyecards heingconstructed t release the ind'iyiidnal When tl-le'retaining ro'dsare in irel-atiV-ely diiferent positions, manu-a l'ly o="er'abie means foractuat mg the rack and pinion means to shiftthe ietaining'rodsand eifect the release oita desired card, additional rc ids' 'ex teridinprbeneath the series of cards aad-j-acent to their opposite vertical edges,

andnieans for-simultaneously shifting the latter rods laterally beyond the -vertical edges nr the" cards "to permit r the-gravity iii-ovement' er the released "card from the j "8. "In combination with a --card filing loom pmmem, means therein for releasfor seamin the card retainirigmeans, and key control means governing the operatlon naca ns and release a selected card.

create mechanism'tofposition the retaini'ng nolsycards eah'having means for relc'asabl'y engaging an of i'sa-i'd' rods, mechanism "for shifti-ngt'he "retaining rdds, primary operat mfg means ior-saidmechanism, and a key.

ontrelled seleoting mechanism to establish arr-operative connection hetweensaidoperat means' and the slfi-ftingmechanism a l-loll governing the operation oftheklatterito po+ sit-ion the retaining rods and effect -the1re lease oi"a *lesiredfcard. '1 f 5" i 1 6." In combination; with a {card-filing 1 cempart-rnent, 1 relatively movable card-retiain ing niem bers adapted 'to {coact' with means en "the cards to releasahl yi retain the same in the compartment, means for independent ly ;=s'l-iift-i-ng said retaining members relative to the engaging means'onthezca'rds,

7 movable hard-supporting members extend ing beneath the series of cards, nieans fiior' actnating -said" shifting means including" a "selectively p'r i-mary operatin gfcam, and manually can;

trclla'bl'e m'e'a'ns for determining the ex-tent of movement- 0f "the retaining members to position said -members for the release: of desired card, and additio'nali means simu lt aa displace the supporting members ex-tending beneath the card-s and'per-mit of .the gravity movement of the released card from the compart'ment.

p 11'. In combination with a card fil-ing; ,compartmenhza plurality of card-retaining members,-icar(ls each having means engaged with all of said--members and 'constrncted'to releasethecard when the members are disposed in certain 7 relative positions, a keyboard, and mechanism cont-rolled inits effec tive operation from said keyboard for post tioningth'e card-retaining members" and Se 7 lectiyely releasing the cards 7 from retaining engagement-therewith. j 12. In combination With a card-filing compartmcnn apluraPity of relatively shi ft able retaining members extending across said compartment, cards eachv having means neously actuated the operating cam i -to releasably engaged With all orsaid me-inbers and operating to, allow the card to be re.

leased in "certain predeterni-ine'cl relative positions e the members, means for. relatively shifting said members, and *keycont-rolled oam-actuated mechanism for' op crating said shifting "meansfto position the the :cards from the-compartment. I

T3. In combination with "a filing cabinet posed filing compartments, a plurality of a movable card-retamrng members in 1' each no havingplnra lity of vertical tiersyor} snpfer-v compartment, cards fhaving means 'c acting with f said fmembers to release the Individual cards when sai-d'members are-gin different relative positions, and "key-cone trolled mechanism common .toall brine-com, 1

partmentsffor shifting the retaining mem-i biers therein :with' respect to each: carer to. I 8163,38: the "cards "iJn any one or the filing compartments. Y

lt; "In c Qm'binatfiOn' with a card filingfc'aba inet "having vertical tiers of superposed compartments, a plunalijtyof relatively "mova'ble members in '{each compartment, cards adapted to 'be "engagedand releasablyheld byjsai'd members, means-extend-ing"fbeneatli.

each of the compartments and movable with respect thereto for supporting the cards independently of said retaining members, and

a" n1 mus-11 eorrtmnable"mechanism common to all the filing compartments/forpsimulta- V ncm-isly shifting"theretaining me'mb'ers in eacl 'gcoinpartment' relatively to each other and for moving car'd supporting means beyond the ertical edges 1 of the cards to thereby permlt 0i 1' .the .gravity movement partments;

eta-release 'canchfron any one 91? the com 7 15. In a mechanism of thecharacter described, in combination with an operating part, means for actuating said operating part including a lever, a plurality of unequally spaced fulcrum pins for said lever, and means for operatively engaging any one of the fulcrum pins with the lever to thereby vary the extent of movement of the operating part. i-

16. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality of independently operable members, actuating means therefor including a series of levers eachoperatively connected atone of its ends to one of said members, a key-board having a row of keys for each of said levers, and a'plurality of fulcrum pins for each lever unequally spaced. apart and respectively actuated by the keys in one row to operatively engage any one of the pins wit-lithe lever and vary the extent of movement of the operating part., f 7 17. In a mechanism of the character-idescribed, a plurality of independently operable members, actuating means therefor including a series of levers each operatively connected at one of its ends to one of said 7 members, a key-board having a row of keys for each of sa1d levers, a plurality of ful crum pins for each lever. unequally spaced apart and respectivelyactuated by the keys in one row to operat vely engage any one of the pins'with the lever and vary the extent of movement of the operating part,

and means for looking all of the keys in a row when any one key thereof is depressed.

18. In a mechanism of the characterdescribed, in combination with a plurality of operating members, actuating means there for including a plurality of levers, means operatively connecting 'each 'leverto one of said operating members, means normally locking the operating connection to each vlever against effective operation, a keyboard having a row of keys for each of said levers, a series of fulcrum pins for each I clever unequally spaced apart and actuated by the keys in the respective row, and means simultaneously actuated upon the depression of a key to engage one of the fulcrum )1I1S' with one of the levers and to release the operating connection between sa1d lever and the operating member and thereby cause an eife'ctive movement'of the latter upon the movement of said lever about the fulcrum pin.

19. In a mechanism of the character described, in combination with a plurality of independently operable members, an operating cam therefor, and means actuated by said cam for transmitting movement simultaneously to said members, said means including a plurality of levers and key-actuated means for differentially positioning the fulcrums of therespective levers and thereby Vmined relative positions.

are disposed in certain common to a plurality of cards, cards each having spaced means to engagesaid members and constructed to allowa selected card to be released from retention thereby with out releasing-the remaining cards when: the spaced means of the'selected card and said members are disposed in certain predeter-.

21. In a cardfiling system, in combination with a series of relatively shiftable card-retaining members common to a plurality of cards, cards each having spaced means to engage said members and constructed to allow a selected card to be released from retention thereby Without releasing the remaining cards when said members are relatively shifted to vcertain predetermined positions with respect to the means on the selected card. 7

22. A card for filing systems having spaced longitudinally extending slots each having a'lateral opening upon one edge of the card and adapted to receive retalning members, the openings of said slots, adapted to be brought into alignment with the retaining members extending through the slots by relative shifting movements of theretaining members and the card whereby the card is released. 7

In combination with-a card-filingcompartment, card-retaining means, means for actuating the card-retaining means to release a selected card from the'compartment, means supporting the cards independently of said retaining means, and means for actuating said supporting means to permitof the re moval of the selected card. V

I 24. In combination with a card-filing compartment, a plurality of movable card-retaining elements adapted to co-operate with movable supporting means supporting the cards within the cabinet independently of thecard-retaining elements, selectively oper-" able means controlling the operation of said mechanism, and additional means for actuating said card-supporting means to efi'ect the release of a desired card. 7

25. In a filing system, in combination, a series of retaining members common to a plurality of information-bearing elements, and said elements each having spaced means to engage said members and constructed to allow a selected element to be released from retention thereby without releasin'gthe' remaining elements when the spaced means of the selected element and said members predetermined relative positions. a

26. In a filing system, in combination, a

sis

series of relatively shittable retaining memwhen said members are relatively shifted'to berscommon to a plurallty of lnformationeertaln predetermmed poslt-lons' w th respect bearing elements, and said elements eachto the means on theselected' element.

having spaced means to engage said mem- {In testimony that Weclaim the foregoing" 5 bers and constructed to allow a selected ele-' as our invention, We have signed our names.

ment to be released from retention-thereby 1 SAMUEL JQ'KRAUT.

Without releasing the remaining elements I JOSEPH HUCK. 

